A man was charged with DUI in connection with a multi-vehicle crash that injured three children as they were heading to school early Thursday in Jackson County.
Christopher Hembree, 42, of Commerce, also faces three counts of serious injury by vehicle, one count of safety restraint violation and failure to yield while turning, according to the Georgia State Patrol. Authorities say he had drugs in his system at the time of the crash.
Keira Hembree, 8, and Summer Hembree, 15, both of Commerce, and Christopher Hembree, 15, of Jefferson, were inside the car during the crash. The elder Hembree is related to the children, but it is not yet clear of their relationship.
The crash happened about 7:25 a.m. at U.S. 441 and Hoods Mill Road near Commerce, Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum told Channel 2 Action News.
Dewey Baker, the father-in-law of one of the drivers involved in the crash, told Channel 2 his son called him right after the accident. Baker said his son-in-law Stephen Beauchamp was headed southbound on U.S. 441 in a truck when Hembree’s car carrying the three children tried to cross an intersection.
Beauchamp’s truck T-boned the car, and a blue Honda hit the truck while it was flipped over, according to Channel 2.
“We’ve had several wrecks here,” Baker said at the crash site. “And we’ve tried to get a red light, and they won’t talk to us.
“Maybe this will help.”
All of the children involved in the crash are related, Jackson County school spokeswoman Karen Bridgeman told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
According to GSP, the 8-year-old was was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital. Bridgeman said she is a third-grader at East Jackson Elementary School. She had the most severe injuries, Channel 2 reported.
The two 15-year-olds were first taken to Athens Regional Medical Center.
The younger Christopher Hembree was later flown to Atlanta Medical Center, according to GSP. Summer Hembree was later taken to Atlanta Medical Center by ambulance. The two teenagers are 10th-graders at East Jackson Comprehensive High School.
The elder Christopher Hembree was taken to Athens Regional.
The Honda driver, April Anderson, 36, of Homer, was also taken to Athens Regional.
The GBI is investigating the crash, which occurred less than two miles from the schools.
— Staff writer Raisa Habersham contributed to this article.
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